Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 7, Number 10, 1 October 1990 — Assessing the work done and the work that lies ahead. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Assessing the work done and the work that lies ahead.

By A. Frenchy DeSoto Trustee-at-large

It is appropriate and culturally correct to ho'omalu at times and asses one's work. lt is with this need in mind, that 1 share this process with you. My involvement and record of achievement in

our community speaks for itself, however Ibelieve that in order to measure one's work, it is important to list eaeh effort and the results therein become true and accurate variables for measurement. In retrospect, my years of involvement have been at times rewarding, certainly challenging, and humbling, borne out of a deep commitment to serve others. Although extensive and varied, my service has spanned many years offering me a wide range of experience, mo!ding my service into quality representation and advocacy on your behalf. I ha ve served as: Jury Commissioner ( 18 years), Delegate to the State Democratic Convention (elected from my precinct), on the Alu Like Board of Directors (elected), and the Wai'anae Neighborhood Board (elected two terms) and Wai'anae Model Cities resident participation board (elected), as health chairperson. In this position, I coordinated the development of the Wai'anae Coast Comprehensive Health Center(WCCHC), David Pali, project director, the Wai'anae Mental Health Program, developed the Wai'anae RAP center on substance abuse and developed group homes for youth. I was elected to the Wai'anae Board of Directors. I was a co-founder of Wai'anae Military Civilian

Advisory Council, Wai'anae Concerned Parents against Substance Abuse, Hawai'i Motorsports Association, Ka'Mo'i O Makaha Cycle Club, Wai'anae Pop Warner Bantam football team and Wai'anae Mental Health Advisory Council. I am a past secretary of the Wai'anae Boxing Club, and Makaha Canoe Club (past president) and past member of the Wai'anae Hawaiian Civic Club. I currently serve as vice-president of the Wai'anae Valley Homestead Association, president of the Wai'anae Archeological and Historical Preservation Council, trustee of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs (at-large) where I am co-chair of the Native Hawaiian Status and Entitlement Committee and vice-chair of the Operations and Development Committee. I am a member of the State Council of Hawaiian Homestead Associations and manager of the Wai'anae Satellite City Hall. Formerly I worked for the Hawai'i State Senate and the Model Cities Program as program monitor for Wai'anae projects. As an elected delegate to the 1978 State Constitutiona! Convention, I began to build and lay the foundation for our Hawaiian community's evolution as the chairperson of the committee on Hawaiian Affairs. The scope of the committee w<as to provide constitutional basis for Native Hawaiian affairs, whieh included but was not limited to: 1. The protection and perpetuation of ancient Hawaiian rights, traditions, heritage and archeological sites; 2. The implementation of Native Hawaiian culture and the language; 3. Preservation of Native Hawaiian vegetation and crops (kalo); 4. The recognition of problem areas eommon to Native Hawaiians and the constitutional provisions whieh seek to address such areas as education, eeonomie opportunity and the general improvements needed to provide for the betterment of Native conditions; 5. The Hawaiian Homes Commission Act of 1920, as amended. This effort resulted in the following changes: Amending of the state Constitution to include the Hawaiian language as one of two official languages of the State; Act XI Sec. 2. reaffirming the compact with the United States and defines "rehabilitation" to include but not be limited to, education, cultural, social and political processes.

Including a new article: Native Hawaiian Bill of aboriginal rights, enumerated in the Constitution as Traditional and Customary rights. Article XI, Sec. 1. amending from "may" to "shall" make sufficient sums available. Sect 205 of the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act an amendment, providing that control of water within the lands designated for the purposes of the Hawaiian Homes Act, shall remain in the exclusive control of the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands. And further requiring DHHL to negotiate leases with qualified beneficiaries before the general public. Lifting the ceiling imposed by the Iegislature of money received by DHHL from 30 percent of the Ieasing of cultivated sugar lands and water licences and the creation of the Native Hawaiian Rehabilitation fund. Sec. 208 amended allowing for Native Hawaiians 18-years-old to apply for a Hawaiian Home Lands lease. Article IX adding two new sections requiring the state to promote the study of Hawaiian culture, history and language in the pub!ic schools, using community expertise (kupuna). TTie 1978 Constitutional Convention Committee of the Whole report No. 13 "The establishment of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs was jntended to grant rights of self determination and self-govern-ment to Hawaiians. OHA was designated to further the cause of self-government. OHA was envisioned to be a stepping stone to the eventual evolution of a self-government. All Hawaiians have unique legal status, and the establishment of OHA was seen as a beginning for Hawaiians, with powers of regulation over their internal and social problems." OHA is on course, first resolving and maintaining the trust corpus, now seeking a trust for all Hawaiians. These are the obvious steps towards eventual self-government, whieh translate into sovereignty. All Hawaiians must be given the opportunity to shape this government, towards this eventuality I am committed. My support of self-help housing, drug and other programs are consistent, as is my continued effort to regain the !ands-, state and federal. We have together, made major inroads in many areas, but there is still mueh more work to be done, let us pull together. I hope that this sharing has been informative and that you agree, we must pull together.